Portable information terminal device

Abstract

A hinge part ( 3 ) includes a first hinge part ( 1 f ) as a fitted part, which is formed by cutting out one of side parts of a first housing ( 1 ), and a second hinge part ( 32 a ), ( 3 b ), which is a fitting part protruded from one of the side parts of an inner surface ( 2 A) of a second housing ( 2 ) toward an inner surface ( 1 A) of the first housing ( 1 ), and rotatably engages with the first hinge part ( 1 f ), wherein the first hinge part ( 1 f ) and the second hinge part ( 32 a ), ( 3 b ) are not bulged out of the inner surface of the first housing ( 1 ). With such a mechanical arrangement, when the first housing ( 1 ) is placed on a work surface and the second housing ( 2 ) is opened, the side part of the first housing ( 1 ) which is closer to the a first hinge part ( 1 f ) is raised.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A portable information terminal device comprising: 
 a first housing including a cutout part formed by cutting out one of side parts of the first housing;    a second housing; and    a hinge section including 
 a first hinge part formed on the cutout part, and  
 a second hinge part protruded from a side edge of one of the side parts of an inner surface of the second housing toward an inner surface of the first housing in a state that the inner surface of the second housing is opposed to the first housing,  
   wherein the second hinge part is rotatably fit to the first hinge part in the cutout part of the first housing in a state that the second hinge part is flush with the inner surface of the first housing, and    wherein the first housing is coupled to the second housing in an openable and closable fashion by the hinge section, and a first function operable when the first housing and the second housing are in an opened state and a second function operable when the first housing and the second housing are in a closed state is selectively used.    
     
     
         2 . The portable information terminal device according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 an antenna is housed in the hinge section in a state that the antenna is enabled to be put in and out of the hinge section, and    the antenna is slanted in a direction in which the antenna becomes distant from the outer surface of the first housing, and    when the second housing is opened with respect to the first housing with the antenna being housed therein, the antenna is projected to have such a length that a tip end of the antenna is away from an upper surface of a work surface on which the first housing is placed.    
     
     
         3 . The portable information terminal device according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein a display window for displaying information is provided on the inner surface of the second housing, and a keyboard is provided on the inner surface of the first housing.    
     
     
         4 . The portable information terminal device according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein the hinge section includes locking means to lock the turning operation of the second housing when the second housing is turned to a position defined by a predetermined angle.    
     
     
         5 . The portable information terminal device according to  claim 4 , 
 wherein the turning angle of the second housing is locked when the second housing is turned by an angle within an angular range from about 90° to about 180° with respect to the first housing.    
     
     
         6 . The portable information terminal device according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein the hinge section includes self-closing means which automatically turns the second housing to close toward the first housing when the second housing is closed to a position of a predetermined angle.    
     
     
         7 . The portable information terminal device according to  claim 4 , 
 wherein the hinge section includes a coupling pin containing the locking means and the self-closing means.    
     
     
         8 . The portable information terminal device according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein an insertion hole for a strap is formed between a side surface opposed to the side surface on the hinge section side of the first housing and one of end faces of the first housing.    
     
     
         9 . The portable information terminal device according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein an elastic member being in contact with an upper surface of a work surface on which the first housing is placed when the second housing is opened is provided on an outer surface of the second housing.    
     
     
         10 . A portable information terminal device comprising: 
 a first housing; and    a second housing coupled to the first housing in an openable and closable fashion,    wherein the second housing is smaller than the first housing.    
     
     
         11 . The portable information terminal device according to  claim 10 , 
 wherein a length of at least one of vertical and horizontal sides of the second housing is shorter than a length of corresponding vertical and horizontal sides of the first housing.    
     
     
         12 . The portable information terminal device according to  claim 10 , wherein: 
 a first hinge part which forms one part of the hinge section is provided on a side edge part of the long side of the first housing, and    a length of the long side of the second housing on which a second hinge part forming the other part of the hinge section is provided is shorter than a length of the long side of the first housing on which the first hinge part is provided.    
     
     
         13 . The portable information terminal device according to  claim 10 , 
 wherein a mouthpiece for detecting a sound is provided in an area on the inner surface of the first housing opposed to the second housing, the area being exposed to outside when the second housing is closed.    
     
     
         14 . The portable information terminal device according to  claim 10 , 
 wherein an antenna is housed in the hinge section in a state that the antenna is enabled to be put in and out of the hinge section.    
     
     
         15 . The portable information terminal device according to  claim 10 , 
 wherein the short side of the second housing is a vertical side, and the lower side of the second housing is lacking.    
     
     
         16 . A portable information terminal device comprising: 
 a first housing;    a second housing; and    a hinge section;    wherein the first housing is coupled to the second housing in an openable and closable fashion by the hinge section, and a function operable when the first housing and the second housing are in an opened state and another function operable when the first housing and the second housing are in a closed state is selectively used,    wherein a first operation section for a function as an information terminal is provided in an inner surface of the first housing,    wherein a first display section for both a function as a phone and the function as an information terminal is provided in an inner surface of the second housing,    wherein a second operation section for the function as a phone and a second display section for the function as a phone are provided in an outer surface of the second housing.    
     
     
         17 . A portable information terminal device comprising: 
 a first housing;    a second housing; and    a hinge section;    wherein the first housing is coupled to the second housing in an openable and closable fashion by the hinge section, and a function operable when the first housing and the second housing are in an opened state and another function operable when the first housing and the second housing are in a closed state is selectively used,    wherein a dent is formed on an inner surface of the first housing and a first operation section for a function as a information terminal is provided on the dent;    wherein both of an inner surface and an outer surface of the second housing almost commeasure an area of the dent of the first housing, a first display section for a function as a phone and the function as an information terminal is provided on the inner surface of the second housing, and both of a second operation section for the function as a phone and a second display section for the function as a phone are provided on the outer surface of the second housing.    
     
     
         18 . A portable information terminal device comprising: 
 a first housing including a cutout part formed by cutting out one of side parts of the first housing;    a second housing; and    a hinge section;    wherein the first housing is coupled to the second housing in an openable and closable fashion by the hinge section, and a function operable when the first housing and the second housing are in an opened state and another function operable when the first housing and the second housing are in a closed state is selectively used,    wherein a first operation section for a function as an information terminal is provided in an inner surface of the first housing,    wherein a first display section is provided on an inner surface of the second housing,    wherein a second operation section for a function as a phone and a second display section for the function as a phone are provided on an outer surface of the second housing,    wherein the hinge section includes: a first hinge part formed on the cutout part so as to be provided in inner side rather than the inner surface of the first housing; and a second hinge part protruded from a side edge of one of the side parts of an inner surface of the second housing toward an inner surface of the first housing in a state that the inner surface of the second housing is opposed to the first housing, and    wherein, when the second housing is opened toward to the first housing by tuning the second housing around the hinge section, a side edge of the second housing, which is closer to the hinge section, is protruded from the outer surface of the first housing.    
     
     
         19 . A portable information terminal device comprising: 
 a first housing including a cutout part formed by cutting out one of side parts of the first housing;    a second housing; and    a hinge section;    wherein the first housing is coupled to the second housing in an openable and closable fashion by the hinge section, and a function operable when the first housing and the second housing are in an opened state and another function operable when the first housing and the second housing are in a closed state is selectively used,    wherein a dent is formed on an inner surface of the first housing and a first operation section for a function as a information terminal is provided on the dent,    wherein both of an inner surface and an outer surface of the second housing almost commeasure an area of the dent of the first housing, a first display section for a function as a phone and the function as an information terminal is provided on the inner surface of the second housing, and both of a second operation section for the function as a phone and a second display section for the function as a phone are provided on the outer surface of the second housing,    wherein the hinge section includes: a first hinge part formed on the cutout part so as to be provided in inner side rather than the inner surface of the first housing; and a second hinge part protruded from a side edge of one of the side parts of an inner surface of the second housing toward an inner surface of the first housing in a state that the inner surface of the second housing is opposed to the first housing, and    wherein, when the second housing is opened toward to the first housing by tuning the second housing around the hinge section, a side edge of the second housing, which is closer to the hinge section, is protruded from the outer surface of the first housing.